UNL holds spot on list of ‘Best Universities’

Once again, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is among the nation's top 50 public universities. According to U.S. News and World Report's annual Best Colleges ranking, for the sixth straight year, UNL is among the 50 best public universities and in the top 100 of all national universities.

"This is something that we strive to attain," said Kelly Bartling, manager of news for university communications. "It's great news."

The study takes into account 15 indicators of academic quality, such as peer assessment, faculty resources, student selectivity, alumni donations, financial resources, and graduation and retention rates.

The study also compiles top 100 lists of other factors, like schools with the highest acceptance rates or the highest percentage of students in fraternities.

UNL tied with four other universities to finish 43rd on the list of public universities and tied with five other schools for 96th out of all national universities.

However, Barbara Couture, senior vice chancellor of academic affairs, said the study doesn't speak specifically to many of UNL's strengths.

"We are one of the smaller research universities," she said. "I think that small atmosphere is one of our strengths."

Couture said prospective students should look deeper than studies like the one by U.S. News when selecting a college and said they don't account for the comfort students may find at one university and not at another.

Over the past six years, UNL has risen in rank from 107th to 96th nationally and from 57th to 43rd among public universities. Both Bartling and Couture pointed to UNL's rising retention and graduation rates, as well as a low student to faculty ratio and high average ACT score as several reasons for the high ranking and continuous rise.

While there are certain factors surveys like the Best Colleges ranking don't take into account, Couture said it's still an accomplishment for UNL to rank as high as it did.

"Studies like this provide great public interest," Couture said. "We're very proud of where we ranked."

jacegatzemeyer@dailynebraskan.com